Naturally, Cohen funneled the payments through the very same LLC he set up to handle hush-money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels. Some $500,000 arrived from Columbus Nova, a firm linked to Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg. The United states sanctioned Columbus Nova last month over the Kremlin's attempting to subvert U.S. elections and other western democracies. In a statement, Columbus Nova claims it paid Cohen $500,000 "as a business consultant regarding potential sources of capital and potential investments in real estate and other ventures.”

Lesser-known Trump donors and hangers-on set up lobbying shops in Washington after the election, reports Politico. Marquee Trump sycophants received Cabinet appointments.

Oleaginous is the sort of word that rolls off George Will's tongue. He deploys it this morning in describing Vice President Mike Pence. Will writes, "with his talent for toadyism and appetite for obsequiousness," Pence is "America’s most repulsive public figure." No perhaps about it, in Will's view. Because Pence is "the authentic voice of today’s lickspittle Republican Party, he clarifies this year’s elections: Vote Republican to ratify groveling as governing."

Sen. Tom Cotton's performance during the Gina Haspel confirmation hearing Wednesday before the Senate Intelligence Committee had Milbank thanking the deities Cotton was not the one up for confirmation to lead the CIA. The Arkansas Republican had been on Trump's short list for the post. Instead of questioning Haspel, Cotton used his time to take "gratuitous partisan swipes" at Democrats on the committee.

Cotton interrupted again as Vice Chairman Mark R. Warner (D-Va.) gave closing remarks about former CIA director John Brennan's views on torture:

Warner winced and looked over at Cotton. “Excuse me,” he said.

Cotton kept on heckling. “That would be the same Mr. Brennan who supports her nomination!”

Cotton ignored Burr. “We need the full record on the record!” he continued.

“No,” Burr repeated. “The senator will suspend.”

Cotton still refused. “John Brennan supports her nomination!” he said, before quieting.

"And I regret," Milbank writes, mocking a statement from Cotton as the embodiment of Trump's Washington, "that this rage-filled man can’t understand that his opponents are not his enemies."

The New Yorker satirist Andy Borowitz "reported" yesterday that President Donald Trump plans to pull out of the United States Constitution, calling it “maybe the worst deal ever.” The whole branches of government thing has to go. But the Second Amendment can stay.

Plus, of course, the Fifth.

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